If You Want to Go Far
...
With this, today's training is over.
Oh... it's already over?
Thanks, Captain... I'll be going now...
After she got injured during her unauthorized quest, she's been quite unenergetic.
And she's more careful around me than she used to be.
She stumbled hard...
Asherah is the kind of girl who'll get back on her feet soon. But the Journey doesn't give us much time.
I can't just sit around and wait until then.
Asherah, are you inside?
...Who is it?
C-Captain?
Um...
Did you eat yet?
I held up some ingredients I picked up on the way to Asherah's room.
Whew, that was a good meal.
Thanks, Captain. You can really cook a meal.
Oh, I'll handle the cleanup. You can rest.
Hmm, I'm pretty sure I picked up some tea the other day... Now where did I put it?
Was I just imagining things? Her place looks more messy than the last time I was here...
Ehehe... Sorry, it's so messy here. A lot's happened recently...
Without people to clean up for me, it gets messy in no time...
Some time passed as we sat facing each other, enjoying the tea Asherah made for us.
...Thank you, Captain. For visiting today.
When I first left home, I really liked not having anyone around nagging at me...
But these days, I keep having negative thoughts when I'm alone.
You... ran away, didn't you?
Yeah... I might've mentioned it last time.
I thought I managed to sweep it under the carpet, but I guess you remembered it.
My family is nobility that has some influence even within NOA.
Because of that, they never really supported my dream of becoming a Savior.
They said it was hazardous work. That I didn't have to do something like that.
But becoming a Savior, helping people, and protecting Lavistar...
That's been my dream ever since I was a kid.
The day I received the invitation for the Journey, I packed my things and left home right away.
By the time the people from home found me, I was already registered for the Journey, haha.
Initiative fitting of Asherah.
...
This is a bit embarrassing to say...
But when I first began the Journey...
And also right until my recent failure...
I thought I was special.
That I was more talented and better than everyone else.
And I believed that was the only way I could become someone like the Star Savior.
So even though I was giving it my all... I sometimes felt frustrated that you didn't speed up my training.
But I was the one who didn't know my own place. And you saw things clearly.
I think I've come to understand that in my head, but I don't think I've fully accepted it with my heart.
I'm not as great as I thought I was. And the Star Savior I dreamed of now feels as distant as the stars themselves.
...So yeah, it's true that I've been a bit shaken lately.
I've even thought about giving up on the Journey...
That's—
Yeah, like that would ever happen! What a stupid thought! So I shoved it right out of my head.
But when I realized I even thought that in the first place...
...I was shocked.
I see...
...
Captain... have you ever felt like this too?
If so... what did you do?
What I did..? Huh...
Asherah thinks too highly of me. I'm not some superhuman who can overcome any adversity.
...But telling her that I don't have an answer probably isn't the right thing to say here.
Asherah is reaching out to me for help.
What could I say right now that would truly help Asherah?
This is something I heard before...
Hmm?
Before I knew it, I was reciting an old saying I've heard somewhere.
If you want to go fast, go alone.
...Huh?
If you want to go far...
Go together!
...
...
As soon as the words escaped my mouth, it sounded like I was trying way too hard to sound cool.
If one old saying could really pull someone out of a tough place, no one would ever struggle...!
A suffocating silence hangs in the air.
So, uh, what I meant was—
When things are hard, we should help each other—
...Huh?
I'll try to be more helpful—
Captain, didn't you say you weren't familiar with stories of the Star Savior?
...What?
There's supposedly a saying that the Star Savior said that's pretty similar...
I ran fast, but the stars were out of reach.
Only with my companions was I able to reach the stars...
...Y—
Y-Yeah! Something like that!
The Star Savior really was an amazing person!
That was close. I almost stumbled myself there when I should be helping Asherah back on her feet.
It was just something I heard—
I've only thought about making fast progress.
Even if the destination was far, I was overconfident I was fast enough to get there in no time.
But now I realize.
Exactly how far my destination really is.
...And even knowing how far away it is, my desire to get there hasn't changed.
I still want to reach the end.
...You will go there with me, right, Captain?
Of course.
On my way back, Asherah saw me off with the same bright smile as before as she waved goodbye.
I'm looking forward to tomorrow's training.